Files and folders in the profile - Thunderbird: Difference between revisions
m (→Files) |
|||
Line 253: | Line 253: | ||
| *.mozeml | | *.mozeml | ||
| Each file is a partial copy (up to 20kb) of a message in the mail folder, stored in a .mozmsgs subdirectory. Used by the optional Spotlight Integration component under OSX. It's deleted when the message in the mbox is deleted. [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3304847#3304847] | | Each file is a partial copy (up to 20kb) of a message in the mail folder, stored in a .mozmsgs subdirectory. Used by the optional Spotlight Integration component under OSX. It's deleted when the message in the mbox is deleted. [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3304847#3304847] | ||
|- | |||
| *.rc in News | |||
| Subscribed groups. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| *.tha | | *.tha | ||
Line 263: | Line 266: | ||
| Copies of messages (its actually a .eml file) created by Windows Search Integration (requires Vista or Windows 7). They're stored in .mozmsg directories. | | Copies of messages (its actually a .eml file) created by Windows Search Integration (requires Vista or Windows 7). They're stored in .mozmsg directories. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| *. | | *.xpi in Extensions | ||
| | | .xpi files are renamed .zip files used by add-ons. Usually they're unzipped and the files stored in a child directory (its name is the GUID that uniquely identifies that add-on) when the add-on is installed but some (such as IgnoreAero and Add-on Compatibility Reporter) aren't. | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 19:03, 30 August 2011
This article is a supplement to Profile folder - Thunderbird and provides more detail about files in the Thunderbird profile folder.
Files
None of these files should be read-only. If they are that might be a side effect of dragging and dropping or backing up files to removable media, and then using them to restore your profile.
Name | Description | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
.autoreg | Temporary empty file that signals a change in the installed extensions. | |||
.parentlock (Mac OS X) | See parent.lock | |||
abook.mab | Personal Address Book | |||
addons.sqlite | Used by add-ons manager. | |||
blocklist.xml | Added list of dangerous extensions. | |||
cert8.db | Security certificates | |||
cert_override.txt | This is an optional file used to store a security exception. It appears to store the host name , thus preventing you from creating a security exception for a rotating SMTP server. | |||
chromeappsstore.sqlite | Unknown. There is a similar file in Firefox profiles used by localstorage/DOMStorage to store about: pages. [1] | |||
compatibility.ini | Stores the version and path of the application this profile was last used with. When the profile is loaded with an application with a different version/path, the XPCOM components registration process is triggered. Thunderbird 3.x appears to use the version information to decide whether to display additional tabs such as the migration assistant and whats new. This file is automatically generated and can safely be deleted. | |||
components.ini | Lists extension folders with XPCOM components. Replaced with extensions.ini in Thunderbird 1.5 and above. | |||
compreg.dat | Lists registered XPCOM components. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered. | |||
cookies.txt | Cookies RSS cookies - Thunderbird | |||
cookies.sqlite | Cookies used by Lightning extension | |||
cookies.sqlite-journal | Journal file for cookies.sqlite | |||
cookies.sqlite-shm , cookies.sqlite-wal | write-ahead log files for cookies.sqlite | |||
directoryTree.json | ||||
downloads.rdf | Download history. Can be deleted to resolve slow downloads or program hangs (Bug 159107) | - | downloads.sqlite | |
extensions.cache | Lists installed extensions, their IDs, and the folders they are installed to, along with their last-modify time. It is used, for example, to register extensions installed by dropping a folder into one of known install locations. This file is automatically regenerated and can be deleted to resolve various issues. | |||
extensions.ini | Lists folders of installed extensions and themes. The file is automatically generated by nsExtensionManager and is used by low-level code to detect chrome packages and XPCOM components provided by installed addons. It can be safely deleted to resolve various issues. | |||
extensions.log | Records some errors reported by the Extension Manager. | |||
extensions.rdf | Installed extension information. It can be deleted to remove "ghost" entries from the extension list [2] and to resolve various other issues. | |||
extensions.sqlite | Stores data about installed extensions, not clear yet if it replaces or supplements the extensions.rdf file. | |||
feeds.rdf | Stores your RSS subscriptions. Its in in the Mail\feeds directory | |||
feeditems.rdf | Records RSS feeds. Its in in the Mail\feeds directory | |||
filterlog.html | Message filter log. If filter logging is enabled its stored in the accounts directory. | |||
foldertree.json | Used by the folder pane. | |||
formhistory.sqlite | ||||
global-messages-db.sqlite | An index of all of your messages created by the global search engine (gloda). | |||
history.mab | Collected addresses address book | |||
hostinfo.dat in News | Contains all the newsgroups available for the current server | |||
junklog.html | Junk mail log for that account | |||
key3.db | Key database | |||
localstore.rdf | Toolbar and window layout and size/position settings. It can be safely deleted to resolve various issues. | |||
localstore-safe.rdf | Special version of localstore.rdf used in Safe Mode to set toolbars and window customizations to defaults. [3] | |||
lock (Linux) | See parent.lock | |||
mailviews.dat | Defines your current message view (you can customize it) | |||
menuedit.rdf | Used by Menu Editor extension | |||
mimeTypes.rdf | Action to perform when downloading certain types of files. Can be deleted to reset download actions. | |||
msgFilterRules.dat in ImapMail, Mail, News | Message filters | |||
nsmail.eml, nsmail.tmp, nsmail.html | Temporary files created when sending a message. | |||
nstmp | Thunderbird creates a nstmp temporary file when compacting a folder. You should not see it (or nstmp-1, nstmp-2 etc.) unless Thunderbird was interrupted while compacting. | |||
panacea.dat | Mail folder cache. It can be safely deleted to resolve various issues. | |||
parent.lock (Windows) | Marker showing that the current profile is in use. Can be deleted to unlock the profile. | |||
persdict.dat | Personal spelling dictionary | |||
people.sqlite | ||||
permissions.sqlite | Used by Lightning extension | |||
places.sqlite | ||||
places.sqlite-shm, places.sqlite.wal | write-ahead log files for places.sqlite | |||
popstate.dat in Mail | Keeps track of which messages have been left on the POP3 server | |||
prefs.js | All preferences, including account settings and mail folder locations. See: Modify Thunderbird settings | |||
pubring.gpg | Public keys (yours and any you collected) for the Enigmail (OpenPGP) extension. | |||
rulesbackup.dat | If msgFilterRules.dat can't be read it backs it up in that file and creates a new msgFilterRules.dat. | |||
search.json | Not clear what it is since there is no search.sqlite to cache. [4] | |||
secmod.db | Security module database | |||
secring.gpg | Private keys for the Enigmail (OpenPGP) extension. | |||
session.json | Default windows layout. Thunderbird 3.x deletes this file after reading the settings. Its re-created and the layout saved when Thunderbird 3.x terminates normally. | |||
Signons.sqlite | Encrypted saved passwords, requires key3.db to work. It used to use signons.txt or signons3.txt. | |||
storage.sdb | Internal calendar data (in SQLite format) if you use the Lightning extension | |||
training.dat | Custom training for Junk Mail Controls | |||
traits.dat | Bayes traits training data used by the TaQuilla add-on | |||
tmprules.dat | Temporary file used when modifying message filters. | |||
urlclassifier2.sqlite | Contains information on known phishing sites. Obsolete. | |||
urlclassifier3.sqlite | Contains information on known phishing sites. Seems to be a replacement for urlclassifier2.sqlite, which replaced urlclassifier.sqlite. | |||
user.js (does not exist by default) |
User-set, overrides the preferences in prefs.js | |||
userChrome.css in chrome (does not exist by default) |
User-set CSS to change the way the application looks | |||
userContent.css in chrome (does not exist by default) |
User-set CSS to change the way webpages look | |||
userChrome.js in chrome (does not exist by default) |
User-set JavaScript to change the way the application works | |||
virtualfolders.dat | Saved Search folder settings | |||
webappsstore.sqlite | ||||
xpti.dat | Lists registered XPCOM interfaces. Automatically regenerated whenever XPCOM registration process is triggered. | |||
XPC.mfl | A cache file for components (XPC) | |||
xul.mfasl (Linux) | See XUL.mfl file | |||
XUL.mfl (Windows) | Cached user interface data. Can be deleted to resolve various issues. File location changed in Thunderbird 1.5. [5] | |||
XUL FastLoad File (Mac OS X) | See XUL.mfl |
Files without specific names
Name | Description |
---|---|
(number).s | Obsolete. It used to be used for saving passwords. The "(number).s" value was specified by the signon.SignonFileName preference. |
* in ImapMail, Mail, and News (no file extension) | Mbox files. They are text files that contain all of the messages for that folder. |
*.mab other than abook.mab and history.mab | User-created or imported address books. |
*.msf in ImapMail, Mail, and News | Index files for mail messages. |
*.mozeml | Each file is a partial copy (up to 20kb) of a message in the mail folder, stored in a .mozmsgs subdirectory. Used by the optional Spotlight Integration component under OSX. It's deleted when the message in the mbox is deleted. [6] |
*.rc in News | Subscribed groups. |
*.tha | The MoreFunctionsForAddressBook add-on uses this file extension for contacts. |
*.thm | The MoreFunctionsForAddressBook add-on uses this file extension for mailing lists. |
*.wdseml | Copies of messages (its actually a .eml file) created by Windows Search Integration (requires Vista or Windows 7). They're stored in .mozmsg directories. |
*.xpi in Extensions | .xpi files are renamed .zip files used by add-ons. Usually they're unzipped and the files stored in a child directory (its name is the GUID that uniquely identifies that add-on) when the add-on is installed but some (such as IgnoreAero and Add-on Compatibility Reporter) aren't. |
Files outside the profile folder
Name | Description |
---|---|
application.ini | The installation directory has an application.ini file with general information about what build you are using and additional entries that control whether the profile manager and extension manager are enabled. |
custom-strings.txt | File in the chrome subdirectory in the programs installations directory used to replace strings. [7] [8] |
MozillaMailnews | Directory in temporary files directory. |
Updates | ..\Local Settings\Application Data\Thunderbird\Mozilla Thunderbird is the directory used to store updates when upgrading, under Windows. This is not the same directory tree as %APPDATA%. Its underneath C:\Documents and Settings\user_name on XP, and user_name\Appdata on Vista. Similar directories are created for other operating systems.
It has a "active-update.xml" file plus a updates subdirectory with numbered sub-directories (usually "0"). If an update gets caught in a loop you can break the cycle by deleting "active-update.xml" plus the numbered subdirectory with the updates. Thunderbird (so far) re-creates that Mozilla Thunderbird directory tree as needed if it doesn't exist. |
omni.jar | It contains most of the default preference files that used to be stored in in the defaults\pref subdirectory in the Thunderbird program directory such as mailnews.js all-thunderbird.js. Its in the root of the program directory. Its contents can be viewed using any program that knows how to open a .zip archive file. |
pluginreg.dat | Registration of plugin MIME types. It's located in the "Thunderbird" directory containing the profiles. |
profiles.ini | Keeps track of the profile folder location. It's located in the "Thunderbird" directory containing the profiles. It can be edited to point to a moved profile folder. If deleted, profiles.ini will be regenerated along with a new default profile folder upon program restart. |
registry.dat | Obsolete. Keeps track of profile folder location in previous Thunderbird versions. It's located in the "Thunderbird" directory containing the profiles. |
You can store messages outside of the profile by configuring Thunderbird to store an accounts directory outside of the profile. If you do that you need to move the directories yourself, modifying the preferences in prefs.js just tells Thunderbird where to look for the files.